Best Radiator Paints in the UK

Hammerite 5084917 has been formulated to make sure the brilliant enamel white finish lasts, heat-resistant enough to be applied onto water-filled household radiators and hot water pipes without worrying that the paint would not last.

Most radiator paints claim that they do not smell that much but that's usually an understatement. Here though, we can get behind the low-odour claim, so you can use this paint even inside premises with limited ventilation.

Hammerite 5084917 will not be turning yellow with time and even rust will not be able to claim this paint. However, the paint is pretty thin and very runny, so you'll sometimes have to apply twice and exercise caution to prevent spills.

When talking about dry time, the formula usually takes somewhere between four to five hours to dry out, not great but not much to complain about either. Besides that, the 0.5-litre tin will last, we can tell you that much. The lid's easy to open yet also not hard to close tight, so the paint inside will not be drying out eventually.

Bottom line, what we have here is an excellent radiator paint, with its satin white finish able to fit most decorative schemes and the hard-wearing formula providing enough longevity to last decades.

Rustins RADE500 is solvent-based. This enamel solution paints radiators and pipes glossy white and makes sure they're able to remain white without turning yellow due to heat. Of course, not unlike most radiator paints, this product ought to be used with water-filled household radiators and not applied onto oil-filled electric radiators.

The formula's great, making the paint thick but not too thick, easy to apply and easy to avoid spills and messes. The smell's not bad too, which is not even that important though because the smell goes away fast. Almost as fast as the time this paint takes to dry out, usually complete within two hours tops, sometimes even less than 90 minutes. Thanks to the deep-penetrating formula, you'll be able to apply 2-3 coats and still have the paint turn dry in less time than most radiator paints take to dry out one coat.

Sure, the product's been designed to paint radiators and pipes first but no one's stopping you from using this bucket to paint fridges and various appliances around the house. The lid's pretty hard to close tight though, so make sure you've done that before moving the tin.

In other words, Rustins RADE500 will be able to turn anything brilliant white and ensure that the white finish lasts.

Hammerite REG500 is pretty ordinary compared to most radiator paints except that the price is more attractive and the gloss paint lasts much more than those products usually do. It is quite hard-wearing, so there's very little chance the paint will start chipping and peeling off within the next ~10 years. The company's solvents are normally pretty forgiving smell-wise and this one's no exception, so you can paint without feeling like the room's filled with nasty chemicals.

Besides that, the product's heat resistance is almost abnormally high, so you can apply this solution onto most water-filled household radiators and hot water pipes without worrying about the paint yellowing. The formula also contains elements that protect the coats from rust and corrosion, which's nice since that means you can use this paint even inside humid rooms.

What's not necessarily nice is that the paint takes quite some time to dry out, usually at least five hours, sometimes even six. On the bright side, you can apply the paint onto most surfaces made from various metals and ceramic, from bathtubs to basement toilets. So, as long as you exercise patience, this is the paint that will not disappoint, not today, not tomorrow, not 10 years from now.

This Fascinating Finishes Ltd Radiator Paint tin will not let you paint multiple radiators, that goes without saying considering the tin's 150-millilitre capacity. But the paint is so good that you might end up purchasing multiple tins anyway, even though that will cost you some. You'd think that's not the most economical approach but, when taking into account the paint's brilliant adhesion to all previously painted radiators, you can see why one might choose to splurge. Plus, the formula's satin anthracite grey finish will usually fit modern decorative scheme much more than white paints.

Aside from that, this paint is self-priming, meaning that you can use this one straight from the tin without applying undercoats and such beforehand. Also, it is heat-resistant to 190 degrees Celcius, so you can paint the hottest pipes, the finish will not start flaking and forming rust patches. What's more, the rich creamy texture offers excellent coverage, so you'll usually be done within ~20 minutes tops.

When you do not overlook the fact that the formula's also pretty easy to clean, you can make an argument that this paint puts those massive buckets to shame, even though buying them is less hassle than purchasing multiple tins.

Painting with brushes and rollers is not fun, that's what our grandparents used to do and we're not about that life. With Plasti-kote 26102, you won't have to do that though. You won't have to clean the brush(es) and will not have to deal with brush marks on radiators. Using this paint, you can spray domestic radiators and water pipes down, no spills, no messes, no time wasted.

More than that, the EasySpray™ tech will provide added control over spraying. The can's large yet comfortable finger pad requires about 35% less finger pressure compared to most sprayers, whilst the twist-and-lock mechanism means you will not have to remove/replace any separate tops when you're done spraying. In the meantime, the large cap with its button design will shield the finger from the paint to make the spray-painting process nice and clean.

The formula is as hard-wearing and rust-resistant as most standard radiator paints', though its heat resistance is limited to 100 degrees Celcius, normally enough but less than the paint we've reviewed above. You'll also have to shake the bottle pretty hard before use but these flaws are insignificant compared to the convenience that comes with the spray and the reduced time frame required to paint even multiple radiators.